FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2001
CONTACT:
Joan Meehan-Hurwitz, 202-651-7027
rn=realnews@ana.org
www.nursingworld.org/rnrealnews
American Nurses Association Takes Action, Expresses Sympathy Following Terrorists’ Actions
Washington, DC --The American Nurses Association (ANA) expresses its sympathy for all the victims and families affected by the terrorist actions in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11.
"We mourn for the thousands of innocent victims and their families," said ANA President Mary Foley, MS, RN. "This is a very sad time for all Americans. Yet, like so many other courageous men and women, nurses have answered the call to provide emergency and disaster relief services in overwhelming numbers."
In particular, nurses in New York, New Jersey, the District of Columbia and Virginia responded instantly on Sept. 11 given the expectation of large numbers of casualties. A group of New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) members meeting in upstate New York returned to their facilities in New York City immediately. In addition, NYSNA was quickly overwhelmed by the response from nurses across the country who answered its call for volunteers.
In Washington, D.C., nurse leaders from across the country who were meeting in Reston, VA, rallied to provide support to American Red Cross (ARC) blood drive efforts. Foley volunteered at blood drives on Sept. 12 and 13, helping the ARC handle the massive response from those wishing to donate blood. "We know that nurses are volunteering in large numbers in many ways, ranging from blood drives to providing grief counseling to Americans everywhere," she said. "We salute the nurses, doctors and other hospital staff, who along with fire, police and emergency medical personnel are on the front-lines of disaster relief."
Foley encourages nurses and others who wish to support the disaster relief efforts to contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE LIFE or www.redcross.org. In addition, the American Nurses Foundation will be collecting funds to support efforts by Nurses House to provide relief to nurses who have been directly impacted by the tragedy. Nurse House is a national fund that provides financial assistance and guidance to nurses in need as a result of injury, illness, disability or other dire circumstances. The organization has established a special relief fund for nurses involved in the disaster relief activity and nurses directly affected by the tragedy. This would include the nurses working in the surrounding hospitals, as well as those whose spouses were injured or lost in the disaster.
Tax-exempt contributions to this fund can be made by sending a check to: Nurses Relief Fund American Nurses Foundation, P.O. Box 96441, Washington, D.C., 20090-6441.
ANA has received scores of messages of sympathy from nursing organizations worldwide including the International Council of Nurses. "As with many countries around the globe that are challenged by horrific events, the spirit of freedom, respect for humanity and a strong belief in democracy will carry us through," said Foley in response to these messages.
ANA will continue to monitor the situation, identify additional relief efforts and organize nurses’ response as appropriate.
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The American Nurses Association is the only full-service professional organization representing the nation's 2.7 million Registered Nurses through its constituent member nurses associations. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.
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